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From: michalchik@aol.comUrPants (Take off UrPants to reply)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Date: 04 Nov 2002 10:54:53 GMT
References:
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Subject: Re: household electrical failiure
Message-ID: <20021104055453.29301.00002444@mb-mg.aol.com>
FINALLY! Thank you, an explanation of the hazards that goes beyond insults! I
appreciate that. You make good points that are causing me to carefully
reconsider the situation. I have been keeping the power to that side off on the
circuits in question BTW. FYI, one thing that I didn't mention is that there
are really no heavy appliances in that side. Just lights, a computer, some
portable heaters (plastic cases). Most things are 3 pronged though some may be
polarized two prongs. I have to check. All of it is off now and none.
>It should be obvious whether this affects more than one circuit. If
>not, then turn the bad circuit off and unplug EVERYTHING on it. Turn it
>back on and check for voltage at each outlet using a neon or solenoid
>tester (not a DMM), starting close to the panel. If the whole circuit
>is dead, then it is probably the connection in the panel that's bad. If
>it is partway through then you may have a broken, chewed, or burned
>wire. If more than one circuit is affected, then turn the main braker
>off, unplug all appliances, and check each neutral bond in the panel
>with an ohm meter. Short an outlet at the end of each branch circuit
>and, with the branch breaker off, measure resistance from the hot to the
>neutral bar. An open or high resistance would indicate a broken neutral
>in that circuit. Obviously, remember to remove the short before
>applying power! If this still doesn't reveal the fault location, then
>you'll have to get slightly creative. It shouldn't be much of a
>challenge. This situation MUST be corrected immediately. It is NOT
>SAFE to leave the power on in this situation until it is fixed.
>
Power is off and has been off except for brief times when I have been testing.
Still the proceedure you describe doesn't sound impossible to me. I'll read it
again, and sleep on it. talk to you guys tomorrow assunimg I am not consumed by
flames ;-)
>Anyone who doesn't have a rock solid understanding of
>what's going on should not be dealing with such a problem, since a large
Any suggested reading on the web. i am a quick study.